By the way, doctor: Is that too much vitamin D?
When people are discovered to have low levels of vitamin D, it's often recommended that they "tank up" on large amounts for several weeks and then go to a daily dose of 1,000 international units (IU). Don't worry: daily doses well over the usual 2,000 IU upper limit won't overload you and cause toxicity because your body's stores of the vitamin are very low. I usually start my vitamin D–deficient patients on 50,000 IU pills, one each week for several weeks.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
